• Protests erupt in Istanbul against police barricades and court removals of CHP officials.
• Police employ pepper spray and tear gas as tensions escalate between opposition supporters and law enforcement.
• The CHP calls the latest legal actions politically motivated efforts to weaken their party.
• Social media access is restricted amid rising political tensions and unrest.
• Interior Minister warns against disobedience to court orders, labeling it obstruction of justice.

Protests erupted in Istanbul on September 8, 2025, as supporters of Turkey's main opposition party, the Republican People's Party (CHP), clashed with police outside their headquarters in response to a recent court ruling that ordered the removal of their Istanbul provincial chairman, Ozgur Celik. In reaction to the ruling, which the CHP has labeled as "null and void," barricades were erected by police, leading to heightened tensions and calls for public demonstrations by party leaders, notably Ozgur Ozel. Ozel urged supporters to gather and protect their headquarters, which he described as "the home of Ataturk" in a direct appeal against the police siege, according to Reuters.

During the protests, police utilized pepper spray and tear gas to disperse crowds, resulting in several injuries and arrests, with between 10 to 20 protestors reportedly detained. This commotion followed a decision from a court that removed Celik, replacing him with Gursel Tekin, a former deputy party leader. Opposition lawmakers described the court intervention as part of a broader crackdown, echoing sentiments that the judiciary is being used for political purposes aimed at dismantling the opposition, as noted by India Times and Reuters.

As tensions escalated, CHP supporters barricaded themselves inside the headquarters using furniture to prevent police from entering, reflecting the intensity of their opposition to the court's decision. CHP leaders emphasized that these measures were not just attacks on their party but broader efforts to undermine democracy in Turkey. The situation has also led to a significant drop in Istanbul's stock market, highlighting the political instability arising from these clashes, according to Reuters and Al Jazeera.

The Turkish government has defended its actions, with Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya stating that ignoring court orders constitutes obstruction of justice. Following the unrest, access to various social media platforms was restricted, a measure often seen during politically charged situations, as confirmed by internet monitoring groups like NetBlocks, highlighting the ongoing measures to control the narrative around the events transpiring in Turkey, according to Reuters and Al Jazeera.